Trevor beamed at Klar. Not just because he was getting a quest, but because he would be able to help out his friend. “Whatever I can do, I’m happy to help,” he said. “You really did wonders calming me down when I first arrived, so I’m at your service until tomorrow.”

“Don’t mention it, that was just talk between new friends,” Klar said with a laugh. “But, let’s get to business for now. Can you store more than this?”

“With my backpack on, yeah,” Trevor replied. “It’s a Trinket that increases my storage capacity.”

“Phenomenal, simply phenomenal. Normally, it would take a team of people all day to do what I need done, and some have already been sent out, but perhaps you would not mind running around the city for me? I promise to make it well worth your time, my friend.”

The young man thought about getting back to Adabelle, but their date wasn’t until tomorrow, anyway. He came to realize that he still barely knew anything about the Festival of Golden Lights, where they would be going, or what they would be seeing. There was also the matter of what he would have to wear. Something told him that Klar would be able to help.

“I actually do have some requests, if you don’t mind,” Trevor said.

“I do not! Please, if they are within my power, then I will do what I can.”

“Thank you, Klar, I’ve…” Trevor hesitated, suddenly realizing what he would actually have to ask.

After a few seconds, the minotaur tilted his head. “You’ve…?” he asked.

Taking a breath, Trevor shook his head. “Do you know Lady Adabelle? From Tosa?”

“She is Jackson’s apprentice, no?” he asked. “Yes, we’ve met. She is stern, but a wonderful woman nonetheless.”

“Adabelle- I mean, Lady Adabelle is here. She was traveling with me, and I asked her out. To the festival, tomorrow. We’re going on a date. To the festival. But I just realized that I don’t know anything about it. I wouldn’t know where to take her, or where to avoid taking her, or if she’s taking me somewhere? And there’s nothing for me to wear except a really, really nice suit that Kadrus made, but I’m not sure if it’s appropriate? And-“

“Okay, okay!” Klar said, chuckling as he silenced Trevor with a firm hand on the young man’s shoulder. “So, you were rambling a little, but to sum up. You need a place to take Lady Adabelle, and you need something to wear.”

“Yes, that is accurate, sorry,” Trevor replied while bowing his head.

“Let us discuss things while you begin taking items into your inventory, shall we?” the minotaur asked with clear amusement. “And you can calm down a little bit.”

“Yeah, sure, alright.”

Klar motioned for Trevor to follow him, and the young man did as they went through the back of the minotaur’s store. They passed by several well labeled bays and shelves, and the once-was retail worker found himself approving of how neat everything was. It was a far cry from the gnomish shop he had gotten used to in Tosa, though it was also starting to give him flashbacks.

They stopped right in front of a large section of floor that wasn’t the same gray stone as everything else, but painted black. In it, several crates with the words “caution,” “danger,” and “keep away from fire” plastered in very large, colorful fonts.

“Normally, these would already be where we need them,” Klar explained. “But due to some nightmares in logistics due to some mercantile rivals, we got them very late. That is why they are here and not where they are supposed to be.”

“What, uh, what are these, Klar?” Trevor asked nervously.

“Do the warnings throw you off?”

“Yes.”

“Ha! Not even hesitating in the face of a friend. Ah, Trevor, I enjoy you,” the minotaur claimed as he walked up to one of the nearest crates. Grabbing a crowbar, he opened it without any semblance of being gentle, causing the young man to flinch. Once the lid was off, though, Klar gestured him forward.

Trevor took a few hesitant steps forward and peeked inside. His mood changed from one of cautious curiosity to unbridled glee. “Is this what I think it is?”

“So long as you think that all of these crates are filled with fireworks, then yes, it is exactly what you think it is.”

“This is great!” Trevor exclaimed giddily. “Oh, man, there’s so many crates here. Are fireworks big in the festival? Wait, you don’t have to answer that, it’s literally called the Festival of Golden Lights; of course lights are important.”

“Trevor, I’m going to ask you to do something separate from the quest for me, if you don’t mind.”

“Yeah? What’s up?”

“It is so rare to see someone who doesn’t know anything about the festival, I want you to retain your ignorance on what the big draw is. Don’t ask about it, avoid conversations on it, just allow yourself to be taken away when it happens. Metaphorically speaking, of course, you won’t actually be transported somewhere, in case you were worried about that.”

“Is it going to be that big?” Trevor asked, arching an eyebrow.

“All I will say is that it will be the most stunning thing you’ve seen in this world so far,” he said before pausing and giving Trevor a sidelong glance. “Unless you are one of those hopeless romantic types, in which case I’d change my answer to say Lady Adabelle?”

The young man couldn’t help but laugh. “No, she’s beautiful, but I’m just a regular romantic.”

“Then it will be the most stunning thing you’ve seen in this world so far,” Klar said confidently. “I’m sure Lady Adabelle will know where to go, and will be able to get you there, just tell her that I said you shouldn’t know about it.”

“Okay, I don’t really like not knowing about big things that could specifically impact me, but I’m going to trust you on that."

“Perfect! Alright, so these are going all around the city to different locations,” Klar explained. “I see that you have a PathGuider 5000. Excellent Trinket, that, and you’ll be able to get through it rather quickly if you hurry. Not that you have to hurry, so long as it’s done before tonight.”

“Just putting them in places, then?”Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Klar nodded. “So that, tomorrow, my employees don’t have to lug them all over the place. I would ask you to do it tomorrow, but seeing as that is the day of your date, I figured that would be rude.”

“Yeah, sorry, Klar,” Trevor grimaced.

“No need to apologize,” the minotaur said with a wave of his hand. “These can go into warehouses across the city, and they can be retrieved tomorrow. It will still be much better than lugging them through the crowds from here. That’s what we normally have to do. Could you imagine the trouble of hauling crates of fireworks through those crowds?”

Trevor could, and it sounded horrible. “I’ll be able to do it a lot faster and with a lot less trouble,” he said confidently.

“Yes, you are ready to agree, but I haven’t told you what you get out of it,” Klar said, scratching his snout. “You wanted someplace to go and something to wear that was appropriate to the festival. Do you like crowds? Or prefer something a little more private?”

“Private, definitely,” Trevor replied immediately.

“Then I have the perfect place to eat. You will have to go through the crowds to get there, but you should see the sights from amongst the people anyway. That is the proper way to enjoy the festival.”

“Lay it on me, Klar.”

“I own a restaurant that every, and I mean every, noble and Summoned wants to go to,” he claimed. “It’s called Matteo’s, and it is reservation only, but I can get you in whenever you want. The chef is Summoned, and his food is to die for. You decide when you want to go; lunch, dinner, sometime in between, it doesn’t matter. I have my own personal dining area overlooking the national park surrounding the castle, and I will go when you are not there so you may have some alone time with your Lady Adabelle.”

Trevor blinked at Klar as he pitched his restaurant. “Are you sure?” he asked hesitantly. “Wouldn’t you rather give that reservation to someone like a business partner or close friend?”

“Are we not close friends?” Klar asked quickly.

“I mean, I’m okay with being close friends, but this is only the second time we’ve met,” Trevor responded with speed, hoping he didn’t offend the minotaur.

Klar turned to face the young man and placed his hands on both of Trevor’s shoulders. “We are friends, yes, and even if you tell me no then nothing will change between us,” he said. “But, Trevor, I’m not just offering this to be altruistic. I don’t think you understand how much I appreciate your Power. If you work with me even just a little bit over the next few months, or years, or anything, then we could do a lot of good together. I’m thinking of that future. Besides, this is an exchange, it’s not like I’m just giving it to you for free.”

“Oh, alright,” Trevor said because he couldn’t think of anything else.

“If you want to go on a vacation somewhere, and it’s someplace I do business, then you only have to tell me and I will fund your entire trip at the cost of a courier quest,” Klar continued. “Even if you want to go, with Lady Adabelle, or whoever else you want. Even if you’re just in the city and heading back to Tosa, there are always goods that can be moved. You can take an entire wagon’s worth of goods as a single man, and I think you need to know your own worth.”

Trevor grimaced. “That sounds like I’ll be replacing teams of people that need to be paid,” he stated honestly.

Klar laughed and let the man go to gesture all over the warehouse. “There is always work!” he exclaimed. “What you could do is prevent one of my many teams from traveling two weeks away from their loved ones, then have to travel two weeks back. Wagons are slow and cumbersome even when they are not filled, and would take a lot more time than you would. They will still have work, but be away from home less often.”

Tilting his head, Trevor thought about that and found himself nodding. That made a lot of sense, and he could see why a big time merchant like Klar would want to be on the good side of someone like him. “Okay, I think I’ll take you up on Matteo’s, then,” he finally said.

“Trust me, it will change the way you live,” Klar said with a grin. “And, I know for a fact that Lady Adabelle will… I believe you would say, freak out?”

“That is something we say on Earth, yes,” Trevor chuckled.

“I’m glad. I do love a lot of the Earth colloquials that I hear. Then, would you like lunch or dinner?”

Trevor thought it over. He didn’t really want to be inside during the fireworks show, so it would be better to take an earlier meal. “Lunch, maybe a late lunch, please and thank you.”

“Consider it done,” Klar said. “And there’s the matter of your clothing. Do you have any particular style in mind?”

“I do not,” Trevor admitted. “I’m not even sure what’s appropriate attire. All I know is that…”

Trevor’s voice trailed off as he thought about what Lailah had said about Adabelle and bare-chested men. His face began to heat as he looked at Klar. He still didn’t know enough about the elven woman to figure out if that was a lie or if she was being serious. Showing off his chest wasn’t an issue, that Strength score of 3 had done wonders for him, he could admit that, but he didn’t know if it was sabotage.

As Klar waited patiently for him to finish his sentence, Trevor made a decision. He looked down and mumbled.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t quite catch that,” Klar said.

Trevor shifted and mumbled again.

“Could you speak a little louder?” Klar asked apologetically.

“Maybe something that’ll show off my chest,” Trevor whispered, his face now very red.

Trevor couldn’t see it, but Klar blinked in confusion before attempting to choke back a laugh at this nervous young man before him. He raised his fist and politely coughed into it.

“Must be the dust from the fireworks,” he claimed, trying to spare the young man any more embarrassment. “Would you feel comfortable in minotauran garb, perhaps?”

“Would that be okay?” Trevor asked, looking up to see that Klar was very pointedly not looking directly at him.

“Of course! We minotaurs are a welcoming bunch, and we love it when other cultures embrace ours!” he said loudly. “Besides, the festival is a mix of several different Summoned cultures anyway. The very first King Eskretet was a, if I’m remembering this right, a Japanese man? So kimonos and yukatas are universally accepted. After that was a Forvan, which I don’t believe is an Earth country?”

Trevor shook his head. “Never heard of a Forvan before, so definitely not.”

“Well, he brought along an outfit called a dunbar, which also became acceptable in the festival,” Klar continued. “It’s tight, and often comes with a very large hat and golden hoops around the body. Very impractical, so few still wear it, but some of the longer-lived folks still swear by it. Let’s see, King Eskretet the Third, who was the first of two female kings, was from a place called Brazil, I believe.”

While Trevor was interested more about the two women kings of Eskretet, wondering if they were called King because of the Quest Master, he didn’t think this was the right time to ask. He didn’t even remember seeing any portraits of them in the hallway before the throne room, though he realized they easily could have been in the hallway opposite where Lailah had led them from.

“Let me guess, lots of really flamboyant costumes?”

“So flamboyant!” Klar laughed. “But also the ones that lasted the longest. You will be among a sea of colors and cheer during the festival, don’t you worry.”

“I wasn’t really worried, per se, but I’m glad that we’ve got it figured out,” Trevor said before frowning. He looked at the minotaur’s large frame. “Do you, uh, do you have something in my size?”

“Of course we do, we have clothes for people of all shapes and sizes! Do not worry about that. Quest Master, could you please?”

[[New quest! Klarkartar’s explosive delivery!

You have agreed to help this merchant prince deliver goods all around the city in exchange for a hot meal, although admittedly a really good one, and an outfit.

The price may be right, but the real reward is knowing that you helped a lot of people not have to do some things that are really annoying. Not only that, but you’re bringing joy to all the fans of pretty explosions in Eskretet! All in the name of Lady Adabelle, no less. This is shaping up to be a pretty substantial date.]]

“It’s not in the name of Lady Adabelle,” Trevor protested, though at this point he knew it kind of was. Sighing, he looked back up at Klar and offered his hand. “I’ll take care of this for you, friend.”

“Thank you, friend,” Klar said back, taking the proffered hand and giving it a firm shake. “And best of luck on your date.”

“Thanks, I think I’m going to need it,” Trevor said with a weak chuckle before he got to work.